Resist My Twin Stepbrothers

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

"Everything is just fine, sir."

"Are you sure?" He pushed. "Nothing is going on at all? Like at home, is everything okay?"

I felt my eyes grow wide, just a little before I controlled the reaction. I wondered why he suddenly brought it up. I didn't have people over to my house of—ten, and not for the past several months. While our town wasn't that small, it wouldn't be hard to bump into fa—miliar people around the area, but Mom and Dad carried themselves well outside of the house as far as I knew. There was no way anyone at school would have found out about what was going on, but the coach wasn't look—ing at me like he was just trying to find out.

He looked at me like he knew. I wondered if I'd given myself away, somehow.

"Of course, there's nothing wrong at home, coach," I said, huffing a laugh. "I've just been under some stress recently, but I swear I'll sort it out before our next practice. You won't see the mess I was today again."

"I hope it doesn't happen again," he nodded. "Because you know that if it does, I'm going to have to take drastic measures, and I'd hate to do that, Evan."

Crap.

"I swear I'll behave, coach," I said. "No messing around."

Football was something I cared about. I didn't think I would pursue it past college, but it was one thing I was good at, where I wouldn't get judged. My grades weren't the best, not only was I average, I managed that only after an all—nighter cramming for a test. It was hard to balance football and my grades, and I'd found that cramming for a test was easier than doing my home—work. I had to maintain a C—average, at least, to play football, so I did what I could.

My achievements in football for the past years weren't good enough to convince my parents of any—thing, though, so I treated it as a sort of escape. In the past, when I hadn't wanted to go home it was because I had practice, or I was hanging out with other guys from the team. They'd invite me out, whether or not we were close since we played together, and I had things to do to keep me occupied.

If I got myself kicked off the team because I wasn't giving it my all, then I was going to curse myself, and my parents, out.

"Was there something else you needed, Coach?" I asked, ready to make a run for it.

Since he'd wanted me, I'd run quickly through the showers and exchanged the uniform for my clothes. Somehow, I didn't think Abe or Mason would be out there waiting for me, so we could hang out, but I figured I could find something to do on my own, so I could blow off some steam.

Coach was quiet for a long time until I started fidgeting again. I ducked my head down and played with my fingers, waiting for him to make up his mind. I looked up when he finally sighed.

"Sure, kid," he said. "You're free to go. I just want you to know one thing. If something is going on, my door is always open. If you don't think you can talk at home, come and talk to me. I won't judge you, but you have to do something, Evan."

"Of course, Coach," I muttered, jumping up and fast walking away.

I growled to myself in frustration as I went back to my locker to pick up my stuff, so I could leave. Today wasn't going as great as I'd hoped it would. From the moment I was jerked out of sleep too damn early this morning by the sound of breaking dishes, then to the part where I had two pop quizzes in classes today that I, of course, failed, to that fight with the guys, and now this talk with Coach, it had quickly turned into a day I wanted to forget. I was more than ready for the day to be over, but I knew going home was a bad idea, so I had to find some other place to hang out.

It was all driving me crazy, and I idly wondered how long until I snapped at everything.

Anita

It was lunch, and Haley and I were seated at our usual table. My focus wasn't on eating, though, as I kept glancing around the room, looking for someone.

Hayley, finally getting fed up with me not pay—ing her any attention, sighed and poked me in the arm.